Forest Knowledge Gateway
Forest restoration and integrative management.

This study examined how forest management affects carbon storage in forests of the Brabantse Wouden National Park in Belgium. By comparing carefully matched managed and unmanaged forest sites, researchers found that unmanaged forests stored significantly more carbon above ground, mainly because they contained fewer but larger trees. The study also tested whether satellite data could accurately estimate forest carbon stocks. Combining different satellite sources improved carbon estimates compared to using optical imagery alone. However, satellite-based models were unable to detect the carbon stock differences observed in the field between managed and unmanaged forests. The results highlight both the value and current limitations of remote sensing for forest carbon monitoring and underline the continued importance of field measurements for assessing management impacts.

This study examines how media narratives influence public understanding and acceptance of sustainable forest management (SFM) in Mediterranean forests, using Valencia, Spain, as a case study. Researchers found that while people are highly concerned about climate change and wildfires, many have limited knowledge about how forests function and why active management is necessary. Media coverage mainly focuses on catastrophic wildfires, while preventive practices such as thinning, mixed forests, or fuel reduction remain largely invisible. As a result, forests are often viewed through a crisis lens. Importantly, support for SFM increases when management measures are clearly explained, suggesting resistance is driven more by communication gaps than opposition. The study highlights the need for better communication, public engagement, and education to support climate-resilient forest management.

A new study published in Forest Ecology and Management highlights how proforestation –  the long-term protection of existing forests with minimal human intervention – can significantly enhance biodiversity-related forest structures. Researchers compared actively managed forests with stands abandoned for more than 20 and 60 years across Mediterranean, mountainous beech, and Alpine coniferous forests. The study focused on tree-related microhabitats (TreMs), such as cavities, bark loss, dead branches, and insect galleries, which provide essential habitat for birds, insects, fungi, and other organisms. Results showed that long-term forest abandonment generally increased the richness and abundance of TreMs, especially in montane forests. However, responses differed strongly among forest types, reflecting local climate, topography, and management history. The findings demonstrate that allowing forests to age naturally not only increases habitat availability but also reshapes ecological complexity over time, reinforcing the value of proforestation as a nature-based solution for biodiversity conservation and resilient forest ecosystems.